able and point-devise companions; such rackers
of orthography, as to speak 'dout,' fine, when he
should say 'doubt'; 'det,' when he should pro-
nounce 'debt,'—d, e, b, t, not d, e, t: he clepeth a 24
calf, cauf; half, hauf; neighbour vocatur nebour,
neigh abbreviated ne. This is abhominable,
which he would call abominable,—it insinuateth
me of insanie: ne intelligis, domine? To 28
make frantic, lunatic.
Nath. Laus Deo bene intelligo.
Hol. Bon, bon, fort bon! Priscian a little
scratched; 'twill serve. 32
Enter Braggart [Armado], Boy [Moth, and Costard].
Nath. Videsne quis venit?
Hol. Video, et gaudeo.
Arm. [To Moth.] Chirrah!
Hol. Quare chirrah, not sirrah? 36
Arm. Men of peace, well encountered.
Hol. Most military sir, salutation.
Moth. [Aside to Costard.] They have been
at a great feast of languages, and stolen the 40
scraps.
Cost. O! they have lived long on the alms-
basket of words. I marvel thy master hath not
eaten thee for a word; for thou art not so long 44
by the head as honorificabilitudinitatibus: thou
art easier swallowed than a flap-dragon.
Moth. Peace! the peal begins.
21 point-devise: precise
22 fine: mincingly; cf. n.
24 clepeth: calls
25 vocatur: is called, pronounced
28 insanie: insanity
ne . . . domine: do you understand, sir?
30 Laus . . . intelligo: God be praised, I understand well
31 Priscian; cf. n.
33 Videsne . . . venit: Do you see who comes?
34 Video, et gaudeo: I see and am pleased
36 Quare: why
45 honorifi- etc.; cf. n.
46 flap-dragon: a raisin set on fire in brandy
